Posted on 02/07/2019 4:28:13 AM PST by Travis McGee
ne of the most commonly talked about topics in the preparedness world is some form of “what weapons do you need to survive XYZ?” or “The top 5 must have weapons”. Many of these articles and videos, however, seem to follow a one size fits all approach to weapon selection. As prepared citizens, we need to make sure that we not only have tools to use, but that those tools are the ones best suited for the job. Many of us are working with small budgets for preparedness supplies, and thus I think that there are crucial aspects of weapon system selections that are often overlooked.I certainly do not consider myself a firearms expert by any means, but there are some considerations that I feel you should make when deciding what weapons systems to acquire. There are three main aspects of a firearm that you should consider when choosing your weapon.
The first issue to consider is the availability of ammunition. Take a hypothetical situation where you are trying to choose a bolt gun in either .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor.
(Much more at link)
(Excerpt) Read more at americanpartisan.org ...
Bkmk
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1) AR-15 with holographic sight
2) 12 gauge shotgun
3) .22LR lever action rifle
4) .44 magnum lever action rifle
5) 9mm semi-auto pistol
This is not an exhaustive list, I’ve got others, but these are my recommendations.
1. AR-15 carbine with 3X Burris sight.
2. 12G Rem. 870 pump with extended tube mag.
3. Scoped 22LR Ruger 10-22 with fast-twist barrel to use 60 grain subsonic ammo
4. 9mm pistol. I have an XD9 and I like it a lot, but I think Glock 19 is a better choice for the reasons given by NC Scout.
5. Ruger Standard Model 22LR pistol.
6. Crossman .177 pump air pistol.
7. On my short list: A PSA AR-9 carbine in 9mm, it takes all Glock 9mm mags and runs like a sewing machine with no recoil.
8. For folks on a tight budget who are not big, young or strong: Mossberg 20 gauge pump. Under $200 new. A lot of bang for the buck with much less recoil than a 12G.
1. 5.56 AR
2. 22lr auto or revolver.
3. 12 ga, 20 inch barrel.
4. Glock in 9mm.
Anything beyond this list is hard to manage if you have to bug out.
.22lr ammo will be THE barter material for parts and other ammo, so you want an abundance. I buy anything on sale, no matter the brand because it's not for shooting.
Everyone should have:
1) AR-15 in 5.56/.223 (or as close as you can get in slave states)
2) Rifle in .22LR
3) Shotgun in 12 GA
4) Lever or bolt action rifle in a common hunting caliber (.30-30, .308, or .30-06 for example)
5) Handgun in 9mm
Once you have this core group, then you can add your Zombie .50 AE Deagle, your precision 6.5 Creedmore, etc.
But when the SHTF, you want usable weapons in ammo-scroungable calibers.
Ammo and mags. AR-15s and Glock 9mm really shines here.
Be sure to ALSO put in a supply of batteries for the sight, and a replacement no-battery scope sight for when the batteries run out.
First step is what situations you envision are likely: home invasion? survival in the woods? forming part of a neighborhood defense team? How long do you see combat lasting?
What sort of adversaries do you think you will have to deal with and how many?
Then you assess your skills and the skills of your team and what weapons and calibers can be shared and employed.
The writer dismisses .308/7.62mm NATO out of hand for long range shooting - so how far does he see the conceptual ranges to be? The longest range I ever engaged anybody with my M-14 was 600m and I am sure I got him. Going to a non-plentiful and expensive caliber like 6.5 Creedmoor would be self-defeating.
Unless someone thinks that CWII is real possibility, stick with a reliable 12 gauge. It is an effective killer, doesn't penetrate walls if you're loaded with birdshot and if a war never happens, you can always go quail hunting.
I buy from ammoman.com. Free shipping and good prices. Bulk packaging.
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I like the Mossberg Shockwave for home defense. My wife and I have plan that if anyone ever breaks in our home, we are going to the walk-in closet in our bedroom if we can. I have a Mossberg Shockwave to greet the intruders if they open the closet door. I have other guns stashed around the house for quicker access if needed.
Excellent suggestion. I also need to get spare batteries for my tactical light on my M+P 9mm.
I like the 6.5 but my first rule of firearms is I don’t buy a caliber that ammo isn’t cheap and plentiful at Wal-Mart. (this means it is widely used and available everywhere) - that’s why I stick with the 308 which I’ve learned to shoot quite adequate for any needs I may have. I really like the idea of a pistol caliber carbine and pistol of the same caliber - so you can focus on stocking up on a single caliber of ammo. A 357 lever action and revolver have been a traditional choice but if one is starting now a 9mm handgun and one of the increasingly popular 9 mm carbines is a good choice due to the wide and cheap supply of ammo. Of course a shotgun is essential. Having interchangeable 18” and 22” barrels is a plus.
I would add a quality air rifle in .22 cal for hunting small game for food. Pellet tins come in 500 count and real cheap
In line with the original article, sights and lights which use easily-findable AA/AAA batteries are preferable to things which use special batteries.
I would also note that the shooting advantages of the the Creedmoor apply to only about the 1 in 100,000 people who can take advantage of them. The vast majority (95% easily) of people can't hit anything out past 300 yards (if that far) and the real advantages of the Creedmoor don't show up until you are shooting well past that distance.
Yep, no doubt. Ammo availability will trump esoteric ballistic advantage by far.
If I could afford thousand-dollar 4X Trijicon, that would be better, (no batteries), but it's just out of my price range. For less money, I put a Burris on each of my ARs.
At my age with my eyes, a 3X or 4X is ideal. With iron sights I can't make out indistinct targets in brush in low light. With the Burris, the target pops out very clearly.
Up close (zero to about 25 yards) I don't feel I give anything away with a 3X. I've taken high-speed carbine classes and did great in the fast and close drills. But from 50 yards back, the 3X is pure benefit.
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